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He smiled slowly. "So you've been staring at my back."
Pink flushed her cheeks and it took everything he had not to lean down and kiss the flushed skin. "It's hard to miss, what with you not wearing a shirt and being so tall."
He leaned down. "You're a terrible liar yourself. I bet I could ask anyone walking by about my b
ack, and none would notice the mole." Moving his head until he could nuzzle his cheek against hers, he murmured, "And you know what? It makes me happy that you notice things about my body. Maybe one day you'll explore every inch with your fingers and lips."
Her breath hitched, and Killian took that as his cue to pull back and put out his hand, palm upward. "Shall we?"
She glanced at his hand and studied it. He had no idea what was so significant about one dance, but she eventually slid her palm into his and he tightened his grip. "I have no idea if I remember the steps or not, so watch your toes, darling."
The next song began, and Killian pulled Brenna close. He'd taken a few steps without thinking, his body somehow remembering the motions, when pain raced through his head.
The sharp jabs only intensified until he gripped the side of his head and fell to his knees with a roar. Killian tried his best to push it away, but in the next second, the world went black.
~~~
Brenna knelt next to Killian's body on the floor and placed a finger at his carotid artery. At the steady, if not slightly fast, pulse, her initial fears melted away. She'd barely established Killian was alive before Teagan, Aaron, and Glenlough's head doctor, Dr. Ronan O'Brien, were also kneeling around Killian.
Moving aside to allow the physician to do his work, Brenna studied Killian's face until Teagan's voice garnered her attention. "Tell me what happened, Brenna."
Taking a deep breath, she met Teagan's gaze. The steadiness there helped to calm her own nerves. "I don't know. One second we were dancing, and the next he was roaring in pain."
"Did his pupils change?" Aaron asked.
"No, they remained round. Although he shut them when he gripped his head, so anything could've happened after that point." The doctor looked up and she couldn't hold back her curiosity. "Do you think this is an aftereffect of the drugs that stole his memory?"
Dr. O'Brien grunted. "Probably. The moss antidote that's worked with the others doesn't seem to be helping Killian. I need to get him back to the surgery and run a series of tests."
Orla Kelly's voice came from behind Brenna. "Tests are all well and good, but we need more information about the stuff that did this to him in the first place."
Caitlin O'Shea, mother to Killian and Teagan, said softly, "Let them do their work, Mother. You're not a doctor."
Brenna glanced at Teagan. At the slight nod, granting permission, she answered, "Something similar happened to the sister of a member of Stonefire recently. Teagan should reach out to Bram and see if anyone can provide Dr. O'Brien with more information."
The female in question had been Delia Owens, the half sister of Stonefire's head Protector and a member of Clan Snowridge in Wales. Unlike Killian, they had found her shortly after being injected with drugs and the doctors had been able to flush her system. There were some lingering side effects, but none were anywhere near the same degree as Killian's.
Teagan spoke up. "You reach out to Stonefire, Brenna, and I'll have Aaron reach out to Snowridge."
The request wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Ever since the debacle with the other dragon leaders recently, Teagan had been giving Brenna a variety of sensitive tasks to complete.
Still, glancing down at Killian's still form, she wondered what he'd feel like if he woke up alone, without her at his side. She wasn't foolish enough to think they were more than acquaintances who were attracted to each other. However, every time one of the clan members demanded Killian remember them or a certain memory, it only made Killian angrier. She'd agreed to mate him to stay on Glenlough, yes, but she also wanted to protect the strong male who hadn't blinked twice at accepting a new female Protector into the clan all those months ago.
Teagan placed a hand on Brenna's arm. "My mother and gran can sit with him until you finish your task. I would do it myself, but I need to soothe the clan's nerves."
Brenna looked around and noticed the various clan members standing, staring, and whispering. What had meant to be a celebration to ease nerves and relax them had turned into another stressful situation.
If they were to continue accepting her, she needed to do her job and allow others to look after Killian.
Brenna bobbed her head. "I'll talk to Bram and Stonefire's doctors and see what I can find out. Just let me know if he wakes up." She lowered her voice. "If his mate doesn't check on him often, there will be talk."
Teagan looked at Dr. O'Brien. "Do what you need to do, Ronan, and keep us updated. Once your examination is finished, my gran and mother will sit with him."
Dr. O'Brien raised an eyebrow and glanced at Orla. "You'll heed my instructions or I'll toss you out, Orla. And no weapons of any kind in the surgery. I saw you tossing rocks earlier, during the mating ceremony."
Orla tapped her cane. "Fine, fine. One of the nurses can pat me down, if need be. Let's just get moving. I want to know what's wrong with my grandson."
Teagan signaled two Protectors in the room and they gently lifted Killian by the legs and armpits before carrying him away, Dr. O'Brien following close on their heels.
